TW Map Reader v2.24 [1-Jul-2015: update]

[dutchsoldier73]

thx for he info

[Toho]

too bad, this looked promising, for some reason the program is unable to recognise the color code i used in my map, despite the fact that these color codes appear correctly in game and I receive no errors.

[Emperor of Hell]

I'm pretty sure Third Age worked correctly

[Withwnar]

Third Age does work, yes. It is the only one I tried myself beyond the originals from RTW and Kingdoms.

[Withwnar]

Aha! Found the problem: it was incorrectly handling 32bit TGAs which GIMP seems to export. When I tried saving a working map from Photoshop as 32bit then I got the same problem.

The new version (1.5) should do the trick. I gave it a test run on your maps dutchsoldier. Confirmations of other mod maps working would be appreciated.

[dutchsoldier73]

thank you so much

[Withwnar]

No worries. I'm glad that you found and reported the problem so I could fix it.

[Gigantus]

Sorry to disappoint.

Rage of dark Gods: map_regions has only the pixel stripe, others display correctly. No errors tab, only this on screen message:


1648: All maps have either no display or the pixel stripe. Onscreen message (entries from error tab in 16483.zip file - too big)


I have attached the map_regions file from 1648 as well - there is no settlement pixel at the given graphic co-ordinates.

The Sundering: same as 1648. Text from error tab attached as Sundering.zip file. Onscreen message:


The map_regions for The Sundering is attached.

.

[Withwnar]

What do you mean "pixel stripe"? As dutchsoldier was getting at the beginning? I think that was due to RLE compression being used.

I can't open the map on its own (in the reader). Could you give me all five files?

[Gigantus]

Yup, just like the compressed pic problem. Attached the three mod's files (no directory tree)

[Withwnar]

Yup, just like the compressed pic problem. Attached the three mod's files (no directory tree)

Thanks. I'll take a look but I suspect that the problem is simply that compression has been used with these maps. The tool can't read compressed formats (I now know).

[Withwnar]

... yep, compression was the culprit: some of those map images are compressed. When I saved them again without compression then they all worked in the reader. Except that Sundering's light red sea is an unrecognised colour so still a lot of error messages in that one.

The new version - 1.5.1 - now looks for compression and throws an error message if it detects it.

[Gigantus]

It's probably also the reason (the compression reading problem) why Geomod generates uncompressed TGAs. Seeing that GIMP compresses by default maybe add a note at the beginning of this thread how to avoid that?

[Toho]

I also use GIMP the program successfully told me that the features map was compressed... so what now? what do i need to do?

[Gigantus]

Open the file and save it in GIMP using 'Save As' and then uncheck the RLE option:

[whoGo]

I tried it with BC and the TWMapReader worked correctly.
But what I want to ask you, if it is possible to integrate the RGB-color of the pile in the map_regions.tga in your export like > 12,146,hills,R255,G125,B0 < or something like this.
So we can know from every pile to which region it belong, this could be very useful to set resources, spawn armies etc.

[Withwnar]

I have never made a map myself but would not the region name be more helpful than RGB numbers? I could do both I suppose.

[whoGo]

The region name would be fine too. What's easier for you.
For me it is the same. I'm writing on a vb-app for MSexcel, which can read all your data (not mapping) files. It will build a workbook and a database, which will allow you easy and clearly to edit your files.
The coordinates of the settlement are very important datas and are needed for the database. It will make a easy doing to set your town-armies in the descr_strat and f.e. in a garrison-script.

If I would have a .txt-list with the colors of every pile, I can build an array with all information. The array can be visualised in an excel-sheet (1 pile = 1 cell, you will see the map almost in the correct dimenson).
With a click on the cell(pile) you will get any information you want, respectively we have. So it will be fine, if we will have the RGB of the ground_types, map_features, map_regions.
(f.e.: 25,125,(not)walkable|:ground|R|G|B|:region|R|G|B|:feature|R|G|B<chr(10)> )
The reading of the data-files will give all color-datas and so it's easy to know the classification of every color.
The use of range will be:
the exact setting of ressources - for me its one of the most important things. it manage your income and therefore the balance of the game. you can make towns rich or poor.......
descr_strat - ressources, armies
scripting - exact and easy placement of spawned armies. events when character is on pile .....
This and more you can do after with a click on a cell(pile).

[Withwnar]

v1.6 released: tile export now has "extended info" option.

Give that a shot whoGo.

[whoGo]

YEAH
that's great and quickly work, exact what I needed.
So if you want we can make the TWMapReader to a fix componente of the MTW-WorldBuilder (WoB, this will be the name of my VB-app).
First step will be to create your map, then make the mapping-files with TWMapReader to datas and after you have a much more easier modding. The only thing is, it will take some time to finsh WoB.

I see, you understand to work and script grafic-programms (that's not my area). So I have another question. Is there any way to export the UI-.tga-pics to .jpg, but not by hand, they are more than tousand .
If we have the Unit- and BuildingCards as .jpg I can integrate them to Excel (can not read .tga). So you can see f.e. to every unit when editing its UI-card.